摘要: Description　　Kızılırmak (River) is the longest river that rises from and also flows into the territories of Turkey, and also that has the second biggest drainage basin of Turkey. Kızılırmak passes thr

Description

　　Kızılırmak (River) is the longest river that rises from and also flows into the territories of Turkey, and also that has the second biggest drainage basin of Turkey. Kızılırmak passes through Sivas, Kayseri, Nevşehir, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale, Çankırı, Çorum and Samsun Provinces in Middle and North Anatolia; flows into the Black Sea, covering a distance of 1.355 km Kızılırmak forms South Black Sea Basin’s the most important delta and wetland ecosystem, by its alluvial deposit.

　　Kızılırmak Delta extends along the the north of Samsun-Sinop Highway, within the borders of Ondokuzmayıs, Bafra and Alaçam Districts of Samsun Province, flowing into the Black Sea. Its distance to Samsun City Center is about 40 km and its size is 56.000 ha. The delta is a big wetland complex that contains almost all members of wetland ecosystems. The major habitats of this complex are flooded forests, trees and shrubs, sweet and bitter lakes, reeds, pastures, sand dunes, sea and farmlands.

　　21.700 ha of delta lands are composed of wetland ecosystems; natural and semi-natural areas where the habitats associated with these systems. 11.580 ha of these habitats are composed of open water surfaces, freshwater and saltwater marshes, wet meadows and pastures.The sands and coastal dunes, with a size of 2.330 ha, draw attention as one of the characteristic formations in Delta. The average height of sand dunes along the coast, with 200-300 meter strips, reaches 7-8 meters, and in some places 12 meters. Of 3.100 hectares of forest areas, 1.850 hectares are flooded forests and 1.250 hectares are broad-leaved forests.

　　Kızılırmak Delta is an old quaternary plain, with a low slope, consisted of gravel, sand and silt. The plain rises in steps from an alluvial plain tracing the sea towards south. The southern border of the delta is formed by rocks during Neogene and before (Upper Cretaceous flysch, Eocene flysch and ebonite, Miocene and Pliocene old sediments of lagoons and rivers). While the large part of delta land is hydromorphic soil, we can see the coastal dunes at the seaside; brown forests, colluvial and alluvial soil in the inland. This land is regarded as one of the richest plains in Turkey with its high agricultural potential. More than half of the delta lands (37.590 hectares), in which 32 villages earn livelihood from agriculture, are used as farmlands. The most important product grown in Kızılırmak Delta lands containing alkali and rich organic substances is paddy (rice). The other important agricultural products grown in delta lands are corn, wheat, sunflower, potato, alfalfa, beans, sugar beet, cabbage, lettuce, tomato, melon, and onion. Almost in all sloping delta lands, tobacco agriculture is done; a slight pomiculture such as apple, peach, chestnut and plum growing can be seen. Also in recent years, the importance of greenhouse cultivation increases. In Kızılırmak Delta where the country’s largest buffalo population lives, other economic activities such as cattle and sheep farming, reed cutting, fishing and hunting, grow attention.

　　The natural conditions in the western and eastern coasts, caused to form more than 20 lakes with different sizes, throughout Kızılırmak Delta. Of these lakes, Bafra Balık Lakes whose surface areas rise up to 9.250 hectares during rainy seasons are regarded among the most important lagoons of Turkey. Ulu Lake, Uzun Lake, Gıcı Lake, Tatlı Lake, Balık Lake, Altınlı Lake, Cernek Lake, Liman Lake at the east coast; Karaboğaz Lake at the west coast; form the major lakes of Kızılırmak Delta. Different habitats existing together, such as sea, rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, meadows, pastures, forests, dunes and agricultural areas; provides for delta a rare biological diversity.

　　Until today, 561 plant species have been determined in Kızılırmak Delta habitats with different ecological character. This value corresponds to half of the families and one sixth of the species, determined in Turkey. In Turkey, Kızılırmak Delta is one of the few habitats of Jurinea kilaea and sea aster (Tripolium pannonicum); seen in Turkey and Bulgaria coasts (the majority of its population is located in Turkey). Similarly, Kızılırmak Delta is the second locality in Turkey for Rhaponticum serratuloides, (Periploca graeca L. var. vestita Rohlena) and Ambrosia elatior species. Kızılırmak Delta is vital for 18 taxons consisted of narrowly distributed and rare species. Jurinea Kilaea, Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), Loddon lily (Leucojum aestivum), Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), Ambrosia maritima, Rize snowdrop (Galanthus rizehensis) are considered endangered species at national level. Linaria corifolia is also an endemic species seen in Delta meadows. Ambrosia elatior, Schoenoplectus triqueter, Stachys maritime, Tournefortia sibirica, Blue lettuce (Lactuca tatarica) can be shown as examples for other narrowly distributed species in Delta. While Galeriç Flooded Forest in Delta, equivalent to flooded-underwater Mangrove forests in the Tropics; has the title of 2^nd biggest flooded forest of South Black Sea Basin; it is also accepted as one of the most important heron and stork breeding areas of South Black Sea Basin. Kızılırmak Delta, with all its features, with its rare and endangered plant species, is recognized as Important Plant Area.

　　Until today, 29 fish species belonging to 11 families in delta have been determined. Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), Fringebartel sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), European sea sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), Beluga (Huso huso), Eel (Anguilla anguilla) and Kızılırmak toothcarp (Aphanius danfordii) are recognized as critically endangered (CR) species; Crimean barbel (Barbus tauricus) and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) as vulnerable (VU) species. In addition, Kızılırmak toothcarp (Aphanius danfordii) draws attention as an endemic species particular to Turkey.

　　The rich flora of Delta also enables the development of the fauna, particularly for the amphibians which are species dependent on water; a good nutritional environment is formed throughout the year, for reptiles, birda and herbivorous mammals. In Kızılırmak Delta, Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) is considered as vulnerable (VU) and European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) as near-threatened (NT) species. Among mammals, Marbled polecat (Vormela peregusa), Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus), European otter (Lutra lutra) are considered as vulnerable (VU); Blasius’ horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus blasii) as near-threatened (NT) species. Kızılırmak Delta, which has approximately 10% of the buffalo presence in Turkey, has the largest buffalo population of Anatolia. Buffalos that have an importance in the region’s economy are one of the most important pieces of the wetland ecosystem, critical for the rangeland vegetation, lake sedimentation, existence of bird and fish species.

　　Kızılırmak Delta has 40% of 1.100 bird species in West Palearctic Region. While the existence of 483 bird species is recorded in Turkey; three quarters of them, 352 bird species are also observed in Kızılırmak Delta. This number is so far the highest value determined in South Black Sea Basin in this specific area. Famous for hosting rare species in the world and the number of birds with passerines passing over the delta, reaching a few millions; Kızılırmak Delta is also known as “Bird Sanctuary”. It is identified that lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Arctic warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), Black warbler (Phylloscopus fuscus) and Black-throated accentor (Prunella Atrogularis) only exist in Kızılırmak Delta in Turkey. In Kızılırmak Delta, 27 bird species that are endangered on a global scale are determined. White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) that is an endangered and rare species; Purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) -its biggest population is hosted by Delta- that can be only seen in few countries and that can breed in limited areas in Anatolia, Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Krüper’s nuthatch (Sitta krueperi), Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis), Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), Red kite (Milvus milvus), Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Great bustard (Otis tarda), Roller (Carassius garrulous), Aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Semicollared flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), Little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Black-winged pratincole (Glareola nordmanni), Marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarious), Great snipe (Gallinula media) and Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) are among endangered species on a global scale, that exist in Delta. Grebe, cormorant, pelican, swan, goose, duck, ringed plover, coot, gallinule, gull and common tern are the species considered important on a global scale, among species that winter in Delta during migration. Also, in Delta during migration, it is known that there are significant numbers of crane, lesser spotted eagle, glossy ibis, stork, black kite, honey buzzard, black-tailed godwit and ruff species; that purple gallinules form large groups in paddy and reed fields. In addition, it is known that Kızılırmak Delta is the place where the largest population of gadwall and red-crested pochard winter. Kızılırmak Delta is the place where 8 sub-species of Yellow wagtails (Motacilla flava) have been recorded during migration: Western yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava (M.f.) beema), Eastern yellow wagtail (M.f. dombrowski), Black-headed wagtail (M.f. feldegg), Yellow wagtail (M.f. flava), Yellow-headed wagtail (M.f. lutea), white-chinned wagtail (M.f. melanogrisea), eye-browed wagtail (M.f. superciliaris), grey-headed wagtail (M.f. thunbergi). With all these features, Delta is one the world’s rarest Important Bird Areas.